W HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM
The origins of the Anglo-French Condominium of the New Hebrides date back to 1887. The basic constitutional document is the Anglo-French Protocol of 1914, which created two separate national administrations (and legal systems) in addition to a few joint services administered by the Joint, or Condominium, Administration. Under the terms of the Protocol, which con- stituted the New Hebrides as a region of joint influence, neither signatory power is permitted to exercise a separate authority over the territory. The indigenous inhabitants bear no allegiance to either power.
Until 1978, when significant constitutional developments led to a start being made to the unification of the three admin- istrations, Britain and France maintained separate national services, each headed by a kesident Commissioner acting on behalf of non-resident High Commissioners. The national administrations
controlled their own medical services (except Public Health), education, police and cooperatives. The Condominium admini- stration, consisting of the two Resident Commissioners acting jointly, retained responsibility for joint services (which included posts and telecommunications, public works and transport, public health, treasury and customs, radio, civil aviation, ports and marine services, lands, survey, agricultural services, forestry, veterinary services, meteorology and mines).
In July 1977 the British and French Governments announced a programme to bring the New Hebrides to independence in 1980. Elections for the New Hebridean kepresentative Assembly were held in November 1977; the 39 seat Assembly met for the first time in December and elected the territory's first Chief Minister. A six- man Council of Ministers was appointed in January 1978.
An Exchange of Notes of 15 September 1977 provided for the progressive transfer of power to the new Assembly. The two